Two Kinds of Wisdom (Part 2)
James 3:17-18
Preached by Pastor Tony Miano
Pico Canyon Community Church
May 20, 2001
Introduction: “Ken Walker writes in Christian Reader that in the 1995 college football season 6-foot-2-inch, 280-pound Clay Shiver, who played center for the Florida State Seminoles, was regarded as one of the best in the nation. In fact, one magazine wanted to name him to their preseason All-American football team. But that was a problem, because the magazine was Playboy, and Clay Shiver is a dedicated Christian.”
“Shiver and the team chaplain suspected that Playboy would select him, and so he had time to prepare his response. Shiver knew well what a boon this could be for his career. Being chosen for this All-American team meant that sportswriters regarded him as the best in the nation at his position. Such publicity never hurts athletes who aspire to the pros and to multimillion dollar contracts.”
“But Shiver had higher values and priorities. When informed that Playboy had made their selection, Clay Shiver simply said, ‘No thanks.’ That’s right, he flatly turned down the honor. ‘Clay didn’t want to embarrass his mother and grandmother by appearing in the magazine or giving old high school friends an excuse to buy that issue,’ writes Walker. Shiver further explained by quoting Luke 12:48: ‘To whom much is given, of him much is required.’”
“I don’t want to let anyone down,” said Shiver, “and number one on that list is God” (Larson, p. 53).
Clay Shiver had to make an important decision. Considering how high the paydays are in pro football, even for an offensive lineman, if he tried hard enough he probably could have justified doing the interview with Playboy magazine. He could have rationalized the situation by convincing himself that he might have a chance to share his faith with millions of men and women who waste their time reading garbage like Playboy.
Shiver had to choose between two kinds of wisdom, that of the world and that from the Lord. And that’s what we’re going to continue studying today. Last week we began our look at the two kinds of wisdom found in the Bible—that which is from below and human in nature, and that which is from above and godly in nature.
We spent part of our time together last week studying what it looks like to try or test wisdom. We spent the rest of our time looking at that kind of wisdom that is not from God and how treacherous it can be. I hope we all came away from God’s Word last week intent on re-evaluating our own decision-making process and determining under what kind of wisdom we operate in our day-to-day lives. To further help us in that process, we’re going to take a look at that kind of wisdom that is truly from above, godly.
Let’s read James 3:13-18 again.
In James 3:17-18 we have a very detailed description of the better wisdom, that which is from above. In these last two verses of James 3, we see what’s behind godly wisdom (v. 17a). We see what’s at the center of godly wisdom (v. 17b). And we see what follows godly wisdom (v. 18).
What Is Godly Wisdom?
Before taking a look at James’ description of godly wisdom, I think it’s important that we make sure that not only is our definition of godly wisdom concise, but that we all understand to whom this kind of wisdom is available.
James begins verse 17 with the words, “but the wisdom from above.” “The Old Testament equated wisdom with loving God” (MacArthur, p. 176). Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The psalmist agreed. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever” (Psalm 111:10). While speaking about the search for wisdom, Job wrote that God said to man, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).
The word “fear” is not used in these verses in the sense of cowering under a rock. This is the kind of fear that we have talked about before, that which is healthy and reverential, directed to the one true God who is sovereign over all things and circumstances. True love for God is not simply mutual admiration.
Remember, the Scripture does not say that God loves us because we first loved Him. It’s the other way around. John wrote these words to the believers around Ephesus. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:10).
When writing to the Romans, Paul penned these words, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:8-10).
In Paul’s writing, not only do we see that reverential fear toward God begins with God extending His love toward us, we also can see a clear link between authentic love for God and saving faith. Saving faith is also linked to godly wisdom.
Go ahead and turn in your Bibles to Matthew, chapter seven. In verses 13-14 of Matthew 7, Jesus describes the narrow way leading to eternal life. In verses 15-23, Jesus talks about the fruit that will be the evidence of a genuine faith. Then, in verse 24, Jesus makes a contrast of his own between godly and earthly wisdom. Follow along as I read verses 24-27.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock” (vv. 24-25).
After explaining the narrow way of salvation, Jesus uses a word picture that describes a person who is truly saved, a person secure on the firm foundation of Christ. It is the saved person that Jesus compares to a person who is truly wise.
Continuing in verse 26 we read, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall” (vv. 26-27). In these verses we see the unsaved person pictured as the foolish man. Remember, we are not talking about the way man determines who is wise and who is not. We’re talking about wisdom in God’s estimation.
Only those who have been saved from their sin by the grace of God, through the sacrificial death and literal, physical resurrection from the grave of Jesus Christ His Son, can ever hope to be truly wise. The reason is simple, yet profound. True wisdom—godly wisdom—comes down to fallen man from above.
Listen to the words of the apostle Paul in which he speaks specifically about the wisdom of God. Since our time in this particular passage is going to be limited, I want to encourage each of you to spend time meditating on these verses during the week. Read this passage over and over again and let its truth permeate every nook and cranny of your heart. We find the passage in I Corinthians 1:18-31.
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing [those who do not have a genuine saving faith in Christ], but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” We looked at verse 18 briefly last week. “For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world (vv. 18-20)?”
“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believed (v. 21).” In this verse, Paul is not saying that the preaching of the gospel or the content of the message is foolish. He is saying that the message is perceived to be foolishness in the world’s eyes.
“For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (vv. 22-25).” Paul is not saying that God is in anyway a fool or is in anyway weak. His point is that if God were to have such frailties, and of course He doesn’t, in His weakness He would still be wiser and stronger than any man created by His sovereign hands.
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God (vv. 26-29).”
I love verse 29. This was me in a nutshell before I came to faith in Christ. I boasted before God. I boasted about how good and wise I thought I was. I stuck out my chest before God and said; “Look at me, if You’re really up there. I’m a good guy. I love my wife. I love my kids. I’m honest 95% of the time on my taxes. I only use Your name in vain when I’m really ticked off. I’ve even started going to church. Okay, so it was just to score points with Mahria and her mom. But I’m going. That should count for something.”
“See,” I would tell God, “My ‘screw ups’ aren’t that bad. God, if You really think about it, You’re pretty lucky to have me.”
Just as a brief side note—for those of you in our Shepherd Group on Wednesday night, I hope you have seen some key words and phrases in this passage, in 1 Corinthians, that speak to our subject—“Who does the choosing when it comes to salvation, God or man?” And, for those of you in the group, listen very carefully, particularly to the first phrase of verse 30, as Paul continues to talk about the wisdom from above.
“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (vv. 30-31).
What we see in this passage—and, once again, as we will see in James 3:17-18, Paul and James agree—what we see in this passage is that true wisdom is from above, from God alone. The only way to obtain that kind of wisdom, that which is truly profitable for life in this world, and the kind that will be rewarded in the eternal world to come, is through the salvation that can only be received through genuine faith in Jesus Christ.
When unbelievers attempt to be wise, and then boast before God as if their own wisdom merits any reward or consideration from God, our heavenly Father simply looks at that kind of wisdom as foolishness.
Even more foolish is the idea of wanting to remain separated from God by trusting in your own wisdom or your own perceived goodness and hoping that God is just going to cut you some slack in the end. Remember our wisdom that James described in 3:16 as limited to this world, unspiritual, and subject to demonic influence is foolishness before a holy and righteous God. If you are here this morning and do not truly know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do you really want to put your hope and trust about your eternal future in the hands of your own wisdom? Or is the Lord, through the power of His Spirit, finally opening your eyes to the fact that it is time to trust in God, to trust in Jesus Christ, for your wisdom and your salvation?
What’s Behind Godly Wisdom?
All right, let’s get back into our text for this morning. James, after telling us where true wisdom comes from, tells us what’s behind this godly wisdom. He writes, “But the wisdom from above is first pure.”
The Greek word translated here as “pure” is hagnos. This word comes from the same root word from which we get the word “holy.” The word carries with it the idea of being free from any form of defilement. There is no such thing as being “relatively pure.”
The apostle John used the same Greek word in his first letter. 1 John 3:3 says, “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him [Jesus] purifies himself, just as He is pure.” “This purity [James speaks about] comes when one has been cleansed by Christ’s blood” (Hughes, p. 157).
Since God’s wisdom is pure and since Jesus Christ is pure in every sense of the word, purity cannot be associated with anything that is half-bad or half-good. Genuine purity is not like a bar of “Ivory” soap. We can’t claim an action or decision that’s only 99.44% pure in its motivation, to be a result of godly wisdom.
You see—even wisdom that has ½ of 1% of the stain of sin, of jealousy or selfish ambition as part of its composition, the entire bar is tainted by wisdom that is not from above, but from below. The only way to be cleansed of this impurity is to be washed by the blood of Christ. Only those who come to genuine faith in Him will be washed of their sins and have access to wisdom that is pure.
“This purity, then, means that a person partakes of a characteristic of God: he follows God’s moral directives with unmixed motives” (Davids, p. 154). The simple fact that this kind of wisdom is from above automatically means that it will be both pure and holy, for God is pure and holy.
It’s significant that James would write that wisdom from above is “first” pure. By saying that wisdom from above is “first pure,” James is signifying that the purity behind godly wisdom is first in rank and in time. As we look at the rest of verse 17 and seven characteristics of godly wisdom, it could be argued that each of the seven characteristics, taken individually, can be accomplished through man’s own wisdom.
Although that may be true, unless these characteristics have the purity of God’s wisdom behind them first, then they each will fall short of being marks of the wisdom from above. The fact that purity comes first also reiterates the fact that every good thing given, including true wisdom is a gift from God. Just as salvation is not a result of our good works, godly wisdom is not the result of us doing the things we see in the rest of verse seventeen. We will do the things we are about to look at, with pure motives in our heart, if God first provides us with that purity.
What’s At the Center of Godly Wisdom?
Once wisdom is moving forward with godly purity behind it, then, and only then, will the wisdom a person possesses show itself to be “peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” Wisdom touted to be godly will have these seven characteristics as its center. They are outward signs that give proof to an inward purity.
A pure and godly wisdom is peaceable. Solomon wrote these words about wisdom in Proverbs 3:17. “Her [wisdom’s] ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.”
Some look at a word like “peaceable” or “peaceful” as meaning always being the person that is first to back down from a dispute or confrontation. There’s a story of a couple that had just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
“Someone asked the gentleman the secret of their marital bliss. “Well,” the old man drawled, “the wife and I had this agreement when we first got married. It went like this: When she was bothered about somethin’ she’d jus’ tell me and git it off her chest. And if I was mad at her about somethin’, I was able to take a long walk.”
“I s’ppose you could attribute our happy marriage to the fact that I have largely led an outdoor life.”
“There are indeed proper times to ‘take a walk,’ but James is not recommending a peace that depends on walking away from conflict” (Hughes, p. 157-58). The kind of peace James is describing is not the kind that compromises in the face of sin. A peaceful wisdom from above does not look to set aside purity in order to attain peace. It is not peace at any cost.
The kind of peace James is describing is the kind that yearns to avoid factions and dissention within the church. A person possessing wisdom marked by peacefulness is seen by the rest of the spiritual and secular community as a strong person, not a “Harvey or Harriet Milktoast.” His or her attitude toward others is one that always looks for ways to show that they not only desire, but also truly love to be at peace. The way this kind of person lives their life says, “the peace of God dominates his [or her] thinking” (Kistemaker, p. 122).
The purity of this kind of peace is the opposite of what the world considers peaceful. Jesus said to His disciples, Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).
The next characteristic of pure and godly wisdom is gentleness. In the Greek language, the language of the original New Testament manuscripts, there are times when a Greek word has no exact English equivalent. The word translated in verse seventeen as “gentle” is such a word. The sense of the word’s meaning is better understood as “reasonable,” “considerate,” “moderate,” as well as “gentle.”
Godly wisdom expressed through gentleness is not simply being soft-spoken. A truly wise person is one whose gentleness is seen in the way he or she puts others before him or herself. The apostle Paul, in writing to the Philippians about being like Christ, wrote, “Do nothing from selfish or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Let your gentle spirit be known to all men” (Philippians 2:3; 4:5a).
The gentleness of a wise person is seen in the way he or she takes great pains to make sure he or she has gathered all of the facts about a particular issue before drawing conclusions or rendering opinions. How many times has healthy fellowship within churches been disrupted, or even destroyed, by members of the congregation jumping to conclusions about a person or a particular issue? I’ve seen it happen. In the situations I’m familiar with, it was a lack of wisdom, a lack of gentleness toward others, which resulted in people reacting, often with anger and bitterness, before they had all the facts. Instead of patiently waiting for all of the pertinent information to be gathered and analyzed, people jumped to conclusions and made sure their opinions were heard loud and clear.
The third characteristic of godly wisdom is its reasonableness. The NIV uses the word “submissive” here. This could easily be misunderstood as merely submitting to authority or doing what one is told. Some theologians define the word this way. But the only way we can stay with the idea of the word “submissive” is if we understand it to mean being willing to submit to reason.
Although the word does carry with it that sense of submission, like the kind of submission that obeys rules and regulations of the country or state, what James has in mind here is a person who is teachable. A person with wisdom from above doesn’t have to win every argument. A reasonable person is not easily offended when someone suggests doing something a different way. To a person whose wisdom shows in their reasonableness, getting to the truth is more important than getting in the last word.
I’ve seen this work both ways in some of the theological discussions I have with people. I’ve met people that have held a particular point of view most of their life and when they discover through teaching or their own study of the Scriptures that their point of view is inconsistent with God’s Word, they wisely defer to the Word and let go of their misconceptions. On the other hand, I’ve had frequent opportunity to deal with people in similar situations that cling to their feelings and opinions regardless of what the Scriptures say. Their reaction seems to suggest that they fear they will give up their independence if they submit to teaching that’s not their own. True wisdom will reasonably submit to godly teaching.
Next in the list of godly wisdom characteristics is the combination of having the propensity for showing mercy and bearing good fruit. The way James connects these two characteristics shows us, once again, that genuine faith and true wisdom results in action. James has already given us a pretty good definition of mercy in 2:8-13. Let’s read those verses again.
The apostle John also gives us a solid definition of mercy in his first letter. Just listen as I read this series of verses. “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”
“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth . . . Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love . . . Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (I John 3:16-18; 4:7-8, 11).
Author Mary Ann Bird shared this very personal story in The Whisper Test. She wrote, “I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it. I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started school, my classmates made it clear to me how I looked to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and garbled speech.”
“When classmates asked, ‘What happened to your lip? I’d tell them I’d fallen and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different. I was convinced that no one outside my family could love me.”
“There was, however, a teacher in the second grade that we all adored—Mrs. Leonard [was her] name. She was short, round, happy—a sparkling lady.”
Annually we had a hearing test . . .
Mrs. Leonard gave the test to everyone in the class, and finally it was my turn. I knew from past years that as we stood against the door and covered one ear, the teacher sitting at her desk would whisper something, and we would have to repeat it back—things like “The sky is blue” or “Do you have new shoes?” I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth. [They were] seven words that changed my life. Mrs. Leonard said in her whisper, “I wish you were my little girl” (Quoted in Larson, p. 90).
The second grade teacher in this story was full of mercy for a deformed little girl. Her mercy, which was not simply unspoken pity for someone less fortunate, was seen in her actions toward the little girl. Her words were full of mercy and an example of wisdom from above. The good fruit of Mrs. Leonard’s actions was seen in the impact they had in the life of a little girl in need of love and compassion.
Like Mary Ann Bird, born with a cleft palate, each and every one of us is born with a cleft heart. Our hearts are badly deformed by our sin natures. Mary Ann Bird could not change her physical condition on her own. She could not cure herself. The best thing she could think of to do was lie to herself and to others about her condition. Likewise, none of us is capable of changing, of curing our spiritual, sinful condition on our own. For those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the best and worst thing they can do is lie to themselves and to others about their sinful condition and their need for the Savior. They may say they’re not ready to make a commitment, but, in reality, they’re not ready to let go of their sin.
It’s only God’s mercy and grace that can change the cleft heart filled with sin. We find a beautiful example of this grace and mercy in Luke 23. The scene is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross between two common criminals.
One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, ‘Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!’ But the other answered, and rebuking him said, ‘Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he was saying, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!’ And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise’” (Luke 23:39-43).
The mercy Christ extended to the thief on the cross, the mercy He extends to every person who repents of his or her sin and confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord of their life, should serve as the perfect role model for the mercy we should show to others—not with our lips, but through the good fruit, the goodness we show to others.
Another quality or characteristic of godly wisdom is seen in a person’s ability to remain unwavering. The NIV uses the word “impartial” here. Although the NIV’s translation is accurate, “unwavering” is closer to the original intent of the word. The word “unwavering” is translated from the Greek word that also means “undivided.” The positive form of this word is found in verse 1:6 when James tells his readers that they are to make their petitions before God “without any doubting.”
A person whose wisdom is from above is unwavering in their positions and decisions. It’s not that they cannot be moved from a firm and stubborn stance. That would be tantamount to being unteachable. What James is expressing here is that an unwavering kind of wisdom is seen in the person who doesn’t vacillate in their decision-making. They do not play the popular game of situational ethics. Right and wrong doesn’t change with a wise person’s change of moods or conveniences.
A person who is operating under the protective umbrella of God’s wisdom is going to be consistent in their decisions and in their walks with Christ. If our spiritual walk is not reflecting that consistency, we ought not assume that God is directing our paths.
The last of the six characteristics James list is living without hypocrisy. A person who possesses wisdom from above is sincere in all things. The apostle Paul wrote these words to the Romans. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9). And Paul wrote these words to Timothy. “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (I Timothy 1:5).
I’ve said this before, and I think it’s worth repeating. Sometimes the greatest enemy to the body of Christ is the behavior and attitudes of the members of the body of Christ. Although no one will be able to stand before the Lord and use the hypocrisy of the church as an excuse for not repenting of their sins and turning to Christ, they certainly can make a good argument here on earth.
Every time an unbeliever sees a Christian claiming to believe one thing and living the opposite, is it any wonder why they fail to see the necessity for Christ in their lives? Why should they submit to the authority of a God they cannot see and a Bible they do not understand, when they can follow the example set by so many in churches today that tells them there is no need for them to change the way they live their lives. They can simply play church on Sunday and live however they want to Monday through Saturday. Why not? That’s what they see in the church.
These last two characteristics, unwavering and without hypocrisy are very closely related. Wisdom from above is not the kind that vacillates in decision-making or in the Christian walk of the believer. Wisdom without hypocrisy is seen in the person who wears no masks. A person whose wisdom is from above does not smile at you while they’re ripping into you in their mind. Wisdom without hypocrisy doesn’t admonish the behavior of a brother or sister and then turn around and do the very thing they claim to be against.
What Follows Godly wisdom?
James ends his chronological discussion about wisdom in verse eighteen. Having shown that purity is behind wisdom, and having given a detailed list of what’s at the center of a wisdom that is from above, that is pure, James concludes by telling his readers what it is that follows godly wisdom. In verse eighteen we read, “And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
James’ point in this verse is very clear. There is a definite “relationship between godly wisdom, genuine righteousness, and peace” (MacArthur, p. 180). James is saying, in a sense, whatever you sow is also what you will reap. If, as believers, we sow righteousness in the peaceful soil of godly wisdom, the resulting harvest will be a life marked by the righteousness of Christ, made visible in the way we live our lives and treat other people, and our motives will be clear.
The righteous life we seek in Christ is not going to be produced through a heart attitude that is filled with harsh zeal, bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, arrogance, or the practice of lying to ourselves about who we really are and how we really act. Nor is the righteousness of Christ going to be seen in a life that is in total disarray because we choose to operate under the poorly constructed umbrella of wisdom that is limited to this earthly realm, unspiritual, and fertile ground for Satan’s attacks. “Righteousness can only grow in a climate of peace” (Hughes, p. 161)—in a climate of peace with God.
“H. G. Spafford was a businessman in Chicago. He was a dedicated Christian. [There were times in his life when the wisdom he followed was earthly, unspiritual, and subject to the enemy’s schemes]. He had some serious financial reversals, and during the time of readjustment, he lost his home.”
He realized his family needed to get away for a vacation. Spafford decided to take his entire family to England. He sent his wife and four daughters ahead . . . In midocean the French steamer carrying his loved ones collided with another and sank within twelve minutes; 230 people lost their lives. The four daughters were drowned, but Mrs. Spafford was rescued. She wired her husband, “Saved alone.”
“Mr. Spafford was [understandably] almost overcome with grief. He had lost his property, his four precious daughters were buried beneath the dark waves of the sea, and his wife was prostrate with grief on the other side of the world. [Spafford could have relied on earthly wisdom and turned his grief into bitterness. He could have tried to get his pound of flesh from the French steamer company by filing lawsuits. He could have justified in his own mind being angry with God and the world, and shaking his fist at the One who allowed his earthly life to seemingly be destroyed]. Instead, he put all his trust in God and wrote a song that has comforted thousands since that time”:
“When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea-billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
‘It is well, it is well with my soul’” (Hughes, p. 304).
Through a tragedy that few of us can even begin to comprehend, Spafford possessed wisdom from above. We know this to be true because of the genuine peace of God he experienced while in the very depths of despair. We know this to be true because the “peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,” (Phil. 4:7a) guarded his heart and his mind in Christ Jesus. And that same peace was so real, so evident, and so tangible, that it resulted in the simple words of a powerful song that has brought peace and comfort to thousands of people for generations.
The wisdom from above that Spafford possessed, the same wisdom available to every believer, bore much fruit through a peace he shared with others. Our hearts desire should be to live our lives under the powerful and peaceful wisdom of God. Are you living your life according to God’s wisdom, the pure and undefiled wisdom from above? Then everything you think and do should pass the test James’ gives us in his letter. Am I doing this or behaving this way because I’m jealous? Am I doing this or behaving this way because I want to add another spiritual notch to my belt and look impressive before men? Is my ambition selfish?
Do the decisions I make and the things I say show an arrogance that I’m unwilling to admit? Do I have myself so convinced that I have all the right answers and I’m doing the right thing that I don’t even care that what I do and say is contrary to the truth of the gospel?
Do the decisions I make show that my wisdom is that which will not last beyond this earthly existence? Do I even bother to consider whether or not my decisions and actions show any hint of genuine, biblical spirituality? Am I living my life in such a way that I welcome Satan to have a field day with my life? Have I convinced myself that a disorderly, out of control, unrepentant life is okay in God’s eyes? Do I think it’s okay to be guilty with an explanation?
Or do the decisions I make and the way I life my life truly reflect the purity of God’s wisdom, which is only available to those who know Him as Savior and Lord? Does the wisdom I possess show the world around me that I live a life of peace, gentleness, godly reason, mercy toward others, Christlike fruit and good deeds? Is my life consistent with the truth of His Word? Am I truly living by faith, or do I try to cover my hypocrisy with masks?
As you contemplate your answers to the questions of this self-examination, I have a question for you—one that I was forced to ask myself as I studied these two very important verses at the end of James 3. And here it is. Now that you’ve heard the truth of God’s Word regarding the two kinds of wisdom, now that you’ve asked yourself some tough questions and, hopefully, answered them honestly, what are you going to do about it?
I had a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel with one of Rich and Charmin’s neighbors as our Pasta Party was winding down, on Wednesday night. After sharing the truth of God’s Word with the man for about an hour, I finished our conversation with the same question. “Now that you’ve heard the truth, what are you going to do about it?” He seemed to be taken aback by such a straightforward question.
Let me encourage you with the words of the apostle Paul. He wrote this to the Ephesians. “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17).
If you are here this morning and know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you now know the difference between godly and earthly wisdom, what will you do today to make sure you are living by the wisdom that will glorify Christ and draw you closer to Him.
You know, I spent thirteen years of my life as a deputy sheriff getting into people’s faces about the law. I believe with all my heart—and I know this is contrary to just about every church growth movement out there—but I believe in my heart that if we’re truly going to see revival in this generation, the church has to be willing to get back into people’s faces.
The difference I see in what I did as a deputy and what I do today as a pastor is that where before, when I worked the streets, I got into people’s faces about the law, today I get into people’s faces with the love of Christ, the grace of God, and the truth of His Word. The church needs to stop looking at the ground, hands in the pocket, and shuffling our feet as if we need to make apologies for the gospel. It’s time the church got back into the business of looking people in the eye, lovingly putting a hand on their shoulder, and, with the wisdom from above, telling them that Jesus is the only way, and the truth, and the life, and no one’s going to heaven without receiving the free gift of God’s unmerited grace, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.
If you are here this morning and have never truly committed your life to Christ; and the Lord, through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit has shown you that, up to this point, you have lived your life in such a way that you have been lying to yourself about the truth of the gospel, what are you waiting for? Stop resisting the Spirit’s move on your heart. Stop relying on your own wisdom and trust in God. Repent and confess Him as Lord of your life.
If the Lord has moved in your heart in such a way that you now desire to live a life that reflects a genuine relationship with Him, I would love to spend time with you this morning and share with you how that’s possible. Or you can pull Paul, Eric, Luke, or Dusty aside. They would love to walk you through the steps of making that commitment to Christ.
Hopefully each of us has benefited, and will benefit, from James’ teaching on wisdom. I know I have. I know that James has taught me much about wisdom and where I need improvement. May all of us look higher, with hearts open to the truth, obedient, and teachable, and seek to live according to God’s wisdom, the wisdom from above. Let’s pray.
